:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46861962/usa-today-8722404.0.jpg)
With the news that the Tigers are open to dealing away their pending free agents, the trade market is quickly erupting for Detroit's players. Naturally, the player that is garnering the most interest is David Price, whom the Tigers acquired last summer at the 2014 MLB trade deadline.
While the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, and Toronto Blue Jays were originally assumed to be the most interested in Price, Fox Sports' Jon Morosi reports that the San Francisco Giants may also be in play. As a team, the Giants currently sit 24th in the majors in pitching WAR, with veteran starters Tim Hudson and Ryan Vogelsong currently performing below replacement level.
There is some indication that the Tigers may be interested in dealing with the Giants. Nothing concrete has been said about a match between the two teams, but Morosi speculated that Detroit is interested in some of San Francisco's minor league pitchers.
In David Price talks, #Tigers like #SFGiants pitching prospects, source says: Beede, Biagini, Marte at Double-A; Mella at high Class A.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 29, 2015
Tyler Beede is the big name of these players. The 14th overall pick in the 2014 draft, the big right-hander was named the Giants' top prospect by Baseball America at midseason. He dominated Advanced-A ball earlier this year, posting a 2.24 ERA in nine starts. Beede has since been promoted fairly aggressively to Double-A, where he has struggled to the tune of a 4.95 in eight starts. At just 22 years old and armed with a mid-90s fastball, Beede has plenty of time to work things out.
Joesph Biagini was a 26th-round pick in 2011. At 25 years old, he's running out of time to crack the big leagues, but he's in the middle of a breakout year with a 2.15 ERA in Double-A. Kelvin Marte is even older at 27, but he's also pitching very well in Double-A. Keury Mella, a 21-year-old, is striking out almost a batter per inning in Advanced-A ball. Beede and Mella were ranked among the Giants' top five prospects by Baseball Prospectus prior to the 2015 season.
The starters listed by Morosi would be unlikely to join the Detroit rotation before 2017. If the Tigers truly deal for a combination of these pitchers, it would signal a commitment to restocking their farm system and building their future rotation. It remains to be seen if this is the course the Tigers take, but the next 48 hours will reveal more.